Cutting and cleaning of stainless steel billets



Aug. 16, 1949. c, RUTTER 2,479,412

CUTTING AND CLEANING OF STAINLESS STEEL BILLETS Filed Aug. 17, 1,946 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CLYDf M BUTTE? ATTOANE Y5 Aug. 16, 1949. c. M. RUTTER CUTTING AND CLEANING OF STAINLESS STEEL BILLETS Filed Aug. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLYDE M PUTTER ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 16, 1949 1 UNITED 7 STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING AND CLEANING OF STAINLESS STEEL BILLETS C lyde M. Rutter, Massillon, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 17, 194.6, Serial No. 691,366

6 Claims. l

The present invention relates generally to the art of working and forming metal and is especially concerned with a novel method for cutting or cleaning metal pieces and with means for carrying out said method. 1

For lack of a suitable method and means for trimming, cleaning and cutting steel, a large tonnage of. steel is annually scrapped at a considerable financial loss. There has consequently long been a persistent demand fora method and means which would avoid the necessity of scrapping large quantities of finished or semi-finished steel, particularly stainless steels. To the best of my knowledge, however, this problem has not been heretofore solved. The metal cutting methods employing gas flames, such as the oxy-acetylene flames, have beentoo expensive to constitute a solution for this problem. Mechanical sawing methods for cutting have likewise always been too expensive.

The present invention is predicated upon my discovery that by means of} an electrical arc, steels can be cut or surfaces cleaned in a manner so economical that stainless steel slabs and pieces which would ordinarily be scrapped because of surface imperfections may be-salvaged at an expense so small as to make such salvaging highly profitable.

Briefly stated, the method of this invention comprises. establishing an electric are between a suitable electrode and a metal piece to be cut and moving th are along the course through which the cut is to be made. In-a refinement of this process, I maintain the electrode and the arc in constant motion with respect to the surface of thepiece, as though mechanically sawing the piece, and thereby efiect uniformcutting.

In cutting a metal piece or-slab to remove a defective portion or to reduce the size of the piece, I employ a suitablekind of automatic cutting blade or electrode, moving it along the course to be cut as a saw would be moved in making such a out. In starting the operation, the electrode is placed adjacent to the metal piece, an electric arc is established between the electrode and the piece, and the electrode-is moved into the piece as the cutting is accomplished. When the desired out has been made,the arc is extinguished and the blade is withdrawn from the metal piece. In making a surface cut to remove a defect, I bring the end or point of the electrode close to the metal surface which is to be trimmed, establish an electric are between the said surface and the electrode point and brush or move the are over the area of the surface-surrounding the defect,

' cuts.

until the removal of the defect has been satisfactorily completed.

Ordinarily, the time required to make cuts of either description is very brief and the labor involved in salvaging what would otherwise be scrap material is a small expense item. Furthermore, this method does not demand a high degree of skill on the part of the person manipulating the cutting device and is fully as safe as the ordinary electrical welding practices.

Referring to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of cutting means embodying this invention in use in cutting a slab of stainless steel;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cutter of Fig. 1 taken at a different angle.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of an assembly embodying this invention showing the electrical circuits of the assembly;

Figure 4 is an end View of another form of apparatus embodying this invention; and,

Figure 5 is a side view of the apparatus of Fig. 4.

With reference to Figs, 1 and 2, the cutting means C comprises an air cooled handle I, a blade-like electrode 2, and a clamp 3 attached to the said handle for gripping and holding the blade against movement with respect to the handle.

The handle I is a hollow, cylindrical, metal piece which terminates at one end in a t0nguelike, solid portion 6. It is connected to a source of air under pressure (not shown) by line 1 and cou-- pling 8. Electric current conducting wires 9 connecting the electrode to the current source are disposed within the hollow portion of the handle and are suitably electrically connected to the electrode. The handle is provided with vents l0 through which cooling'air under pressure may escape from within the handle, and the handle is electrically insulated from the said wires and the electrode 2. v

The electrode 2 is an elongated, fiat piece, preferably of graphite, which is narrower than the cuts it is intended to make through steel slabs or billets and which is longer than the depth of said One end of the electrode is slotted or grooved to receive the tongue 6.

The clamp 3 comprises a pivoted metal arm [2 and a threaded bolt l3 which is engaged threadwise with one end of said arm and bears upon the handle I. The opposite end of the arm engages the electrode, as shown, and in cooperation with tongue 6 of the handle holds said electrode firmly in position with respect to the handle. The clamp is secured to the handle by means of two ear-like with suitable supports (not indicated) constitutes the table T, carries groundplate .35. ..-,By.means of this plate and electrical connections 36 to the motor generators the table is effectively electrically grounded. The table: is provided with a plurality of rollers R, also shown in Fig; 1, *so that heavy metal slabs may readily be moved across it. r

The electrical circuit of this system comprises.

in addition to the table and its electrical ground,

wires W connecting the motor generators to a .gsnurcezof direct.;e1ectric.-:current:and connecting the switch I! to the motorsgenerators LMG,:;-and il-therwires 9 connecting the switch to the lelecntrodezcutterll. The switch mayxbe manual "or 1:- automatic;depending'uponithe service required,

.;.the equipment availablaand the operators. choice.

:Referrihg nowito'Figs. 4 and 5, the apparatus aillustrated comprises; a frame .720 having wheels :21; aumotorinyfordriving .said wheels, a'sec'ond frame 25 for carrying a;steel slab S to bekerfed;

1101', scarfedin accordance with this invention.

The frame :20;comprises a horizontally disposed :-.:metalsbase e2 1-,; an uprightsmetalt body 2 8 and a ehead frame-29.

The base 21 comprises a pair:of attached blocks;

ascend, ;3l theslowenonesof. which (35).. is of rectangular shape, .andsisamounted. upon wheels e .2 Lin .1 the usual r manner. for rolling movement. B1OC1T3|-1S38JSQ generally-rectangular but has a dove-tail slot or groove-e32; in its uppersurface,

hand. is. engaged-:threadwise with a bolt 34 disposed withits axisparallelrto the long'dimension iofnsaid groove; At :one .end,.- said bolt terminates in. a hand wheeL and at the :other end-the bolt is gsecuredto the'framebody28.

.Therbodyizflof-the assembly is disposed upright with v its lower. extremity engaged with :the dovetailrgroo;ve.32 .of base 21. qiHead frame 29. is pivot- -a lly secured to the-body at the upper extremity -.tandathe body.,and'head arermovable 'withrespect zto, the wheelsand base orthe assembly in accord- :ance with rotational andaxialmovement. of 'bolt 34. s I f The .arm 40: is carriedby head frame 29, being ivotallyeattachedtheretoby means of a pivotpin 4 ln-whictr extends througha portion of the arm ebetween the,.ends.1of--saidz arms and engages the .2 head .f-name. An-electrode 42 isattached to the ezend. oiearm 40 which extends *beyond the head l..fr:ame. :An adjustable cam 45 engages'the opposite end of arm 40 which is bifurcatedanddisrposede-within' the: head -frame. The cam is atr...tached;.to; a worm; gear which engages a worm or screw portion oithe drive shaft of electricmotor Wire '49; -,conne cts::electrode 42 .to a" source of electric current inotzshown), and wire 50 serves zitotfground ithesteel S12JZLS11JO be keried; .connnectingjt'itd aasuitaloleelectric current receptacle 5 ltnotsshown) lfserofiztheadevicezof Figs; 1,: 2: and 3 involves :;bringing:theselectrode: 2: adjacentxthe::s1ab s fi tthe wicinityeof ithe starting point of the kerfing "or "cutting :course, :;and-. establishing electric -earc"by.-.,closing switch =1 l. zaAsithe-met'al issevered 4 by the arc, the cutter and attached electrode is urged forward to extend the out along the desired course, and the cutter is continuously moved up and down as though the electrode were being 5 used to mechanically saw the slab. Direct contact between the slab and electrode, is, of course, to be 6 avoidedbecause': the are willthus be extinguished. W-hen cutting -to the desirewextent has been accomplished, the arc is suitably extinguished by 10: opening switch IT, or by moving the electrode 2 -awa-y from-:the slab, or both.

2;;In the use'of the apparatus of Figs. 4 and 5, the vehicle is disposed with respect to a metal 'slab or'billetto=-be kerfed so that the electrode 42 willieffect the desired kerfing. The circuit for supplyingplectric current to the electrode and r establishingarr-electric cutting arc, as described above, is closed by manipulation of a switch (not *shownh and electric motors 23 and 46 are started. By the resulting action of cam 45, the electrode a: is aoscillated -iwith -i-espect -to the L slab or billet -1to. be cut;fandithisl cutting proceeds alcng apre- 'ideterminedrccursenin accordance with motion 01 'the apparatus" tvith respect to' said 'slab "or 25 billet. When cutting ha's tliusbeen completed the "'electridccir'cuitl broken aind the I arc is --.'?extin'guished.

fisindicatediin' ll igs'l'and 5; th'e operation may zalternativelyliinvolve motion of the slab 'or billet :with arespectrstrxthempparatus; th slab or -billet abeing carried-i upon a2 movabl'e -frame having no connectionzwitlifthecutter a's'sembly orb'eing car- .i'ried upon a-rramefoverwnicir themetal piece may zebe readilyimovedxsm a' 'further alternative; the

; 5 .cutter i'assembly andislab 'oi billet may both be im'ovedfas cuttin ?pcoceeds,ithefslab suitably being 1: movedigenerally vertically and the assembly being amovedsgeneriailyi horizontally. An 'arcuate or I1curved. euttingicourse rnay thu's b'e followed by the 40 electrode and are through or over the slabor 'J'ibillfit.

Thosei'isliilledr in'rthe sart will appreciate that "i' vithcrespecttorthe zhand 'cuttingltool 'of' this inz-=vention, handles' iof other liesigns such as those g :having water cooling-fsystems; may be employed;

:andthat theelctrode may b'e of othe'r'than blade- '2.;like:shape.IA-lsci,: it: isiiunderstood that "graphite has theoretical equivalents, so far as the electrodes .arsareiigconcerhed. 1 These and othen equivalencies 5c. and :possible; modifications'iof the "apparatus described-lare 'witl'iiriithe purview of this invention ;'.andr'areicontemplatedlby the appended claims.

:Havingthussdescribed the present' invention so 1'; that othersv skilledziin the "art" may be able' to :1inderstandi:and practice 3th'e"s'ame, I state that :2 what I 'desire to secure by-Eetters :Pate'nt is 'defined in what is cl'aimed.

is claimedis: r g 1;hpparatus for shaping ametal pie'ce com- '=prising-- a' heade'an arm-pivoted to the head; an electrodecarried by the arm and extending from one end'therebf, acam'dirctly'engagin the'other end of the armg and means" for rotating the cam tooscillate 'the arrn 'about its pivot.

2. Apparatus*for 'shaping a metal piece-comprising a 'headf an ar-rn' p'iv'oted to'the' head and having a -"bif-urcatedchm-"an" electrode carried by the'arm-"-and extehd-ihg fmmits other end, cam

- means"'dispo's'ed "iri and engaging's aid bifurcated end ofthe' 'arm,- and*-means for driving the cam means to joscillate the arm means about'its pivot.

' 3." Apparatus fm shapinga metal piece comprising a"body,- ahead pivoted toflthebody, an arm pivoted to the head; an' elec'trode carried -:by the arm a-ndexteiiding therefrom; a 'cam en- 5 gaging the arm, and means for rotating the cam to oscillate the arm about its pivot.

4. Apparatus for shapin a metal piece com- I prising a base having wheels, a body carried by the base and slidable relative to the base, a head pivoted to the body, an arm pivoted to the head, an electrode carried by the arm and extending therefrom, a cam engaging the arm, and means for rotating the cam to oscillate the arm about its pivot.

5. Apparatus for shaping a metal piece comprising a two piece body, the lower part of the body being slidable on the base, and the upper part of the body being rotatable relative to said lower part, a head pivoted to the upper part of the body, an arm pivoted to the head, an electrode carried by the arm and extending therefrom, a cam engaging the arm, and means for rotating the cam to oscillate the arm about its pivot.

6. Apparatus for shaping a metal piece comprising a base havin wheels and a threaded aperture, a body slidably engaged with the base and extending upwardly therefrom, a head pivoted to the upper portion of the body, an arm pivoted to the head, an electrode carried by the arm and extending therefrom, means including a bolt screwed through the threaded aperture of the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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